Seaspan Celebrates Historic Milestone for the Royal Canadian Navy

Esquimalt, BC – Seaspan joined the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, at an official ceremony today to celebrate the successful completion of the Halifax-Class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension (HCM/FELEX) Refit Program on the West Coast, and transfer of the HMCS Regina from Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards (VSL) to the Department of National Defence (DND) Dockyard.

The return of the HMCS Regina, the fifth and final frigate to undergo modernization on the West Coast for the $4.3 billion HCM/FELEX Program, marks a major milestone for the Royal Canadian Navy and a proud accomplishment for VSL.

“Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards takes great pride in the role that its skilled men and women have played as a trusted and reliable partner to the Government of Canada and its sailors,” said Jonathan Whitworth – CEO, Seaspan. “We are honoured to join Minister Sajjan in Canada’s celebration of this historic milestone and we look forward to continuing our service to the Royal Canadian Navy.”

VSL has served as Canada’s capability partner on the West Coast under HCM/FELEX since 2008, providing mid-life maintenance activities, machinery control and combat equipment upgrades for the HMCS Calgary, HMCS Winnipeg, HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Ottawa and HMCS Regina.

Over the course of the HCM/FELEX Program, VSL has provided mid-life modernization activities worth an estimated $500 million, creating employment for more than 450 workers.

HCM/FELEX has remained on-budget, and program close-out activities are expected to be completed by 2018.